If you ask many young people today about
Independence Day, they will tell you it was
a great movie starring Will Smith where
mankind defeats superior aliens. Well, the
Independence Day I am writing about is the
celebration of the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence; the day 13 colonial
colonies announced to the world that they
were already at war with Great Britain, and
no longer considering themselves
part of the British
Empire.
I must admit I
had lost recollection of why July 4,
1776 was recognized until my fifth
grader invited me
on a trip to Montevallo to the American Village. We saw
and participated in
the reenactment
of several key moments in colonial
times with people
in authentic clothing, and I must say
I became very engaged.
There is so
much we take for
granted about the
incredible men and
women who wanted to form a fledgling government that 226 years later is the incredible
nation we live in today. Over the years, so
many people have given up so much, even
their lives, to protect the liberties forged out
so long ago.
Since our visit to Montevallo, I have

started reading more about this period of
time in our country’s great history, and it is
incredible to discover so much about how we
got started. One of the speakers at the American Village asked me when the last time was
that I read the Declaration of Independence.
She encouraged me to let my children read it
regularly to stay in touch with the principles
that are the foundation of this country.
After returning
home and reading
the Declaration of
Independence, the
idea so impressed
me that I have included a copy in the
magazine. I know
it is a little hard to
read, so we have
also placed a link to
a full transcript of it
on our home page
at www.dixie.coop.
I want to thank
all of our military
personnel who
have served, or are
currently serving,
either overseas or
across this great
land we live in. I
know that barbecues, hot dogs, watermelon, potato
salad, fireworks,
and family get togethers will be occurring
all over the country this fourth of July, but
for me this will be my first celebration of
Independence Day in a long time. I hope you
and your families have a great time together.
God bless the United States of America.

4 JULY 2012

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Our Country

Alabama Living

DEC_AL_JUL_12.indd 5

JULY 2012 5

6/18/12 3:30 PM

Summer Fund and Food Drive
Donations provide nutritious meals for those in need
Dixie Electric Cooperative partnered
with WSFA and Cumulus Broadcasting
to host our annual Summer Fund and
Food Drive on June 1 at the Walmart on
Chantilly Parkway.
This year’s drive was a success with
monetary donations exceeding $12,000,
and approximately 4,000 pounds of food
collected. According to Bill Havron,
deputy director of the Montgomery
Area Food Bank, these donations will go
a long way in providing meals to those in
need. “Each year, the food bank provides
over 18 million pounds of food to
more than 800 agencies in 35 Alabama
counties. This would not be possible
without support from the community.”
While many people may be
discouraged about volunteering to work
an event from 5 a.m. until 7 p.m. in

6 JULY 2012

DEC_AL_JUL_12.indd 6

sometimes very hot, or unpredictable
weather, Dixie’s employees are always
eager to help out. “It is so rewarding
to see people take time out of their
busy schedules to come by and make
a donation,” says Janice Harris, of
Dixie Electric Cooperative’s billing
department. “And, I love to hear stories
as people give. This year, one family
shared how during the summer their
children were doing a different service
project in our community each week.
This week they brought their allowance
and donated it to the food bank.”
“We are seeing a growing trend of
children reaching out to help those in
need in our community,” says Teressa
Vigneault,public relations and events
coordinator for the Montgomery Area
Food Bank. “Children are even hosting

birthday parties and asking for food
donations instead of gifts. It is great to
see parents encouraging children to start
making a difference at such a young age.”
Although the summer food drive is
over, it is not too late to help. To learn
more about the food bank, or to make a
donation, visit the MAFB online at www.
montgomeryareafoodbank.org, or give
them a call at (334)263-3784.
Thank you to everyone in the
community who stopped by to make a
donation. A

www.dixie.coop

6/18/12 3:30 PM

Our Community

Alabama Living

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6/18/12 3:30 PM

8 JULY 2012

DEC_AL_JUL_12.indd 8

www.dixie.coop

6/18/12 3:30 PM

Spot Light

In July

july 19

Old Alabama Town
concert planned
The Capital City Shape Notes Concert will be July 19 at Old
Alabama Town in Montgomery. Singers will sing from shapenote hymn books published in Alabama including the Sacred
Harp and the Christian Harmony from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The
concert is free to attend. Call 334-242-4076, ext. 234, or visit
www.oldalabamatown.com for more details.

IN AUGUST
aug. 2-5

Red Door Theatre
presents new play
july 20-22

Deep sea fishing rodeo
set for mid July
Dauphin Island will once again host its annual Deep Sea
Fishing Rodeo, with more than 3,000 anglers from 24 states
fishing in the Gulf of Mexico for three days for more than
$400,000 in cash and prizes in 30 categories. Last year’s event
was the Guinness Book of World Records largest fishing
tournament. Call 251-471-0025 for more information.
july 27 and 28

The Red Door Theatre
in Union Springs will
present Dearly Departed,
a play revolving around a
colorful group of Southern
eccentrics. Evening
performances on Aug. 2,
3, and 4, are preceded by a
seated dinner (reservations
required). The Sunday, Aug.
5, performance is a 2:30 p.m.
matinee. Contact 334-7388687 or conecuhpeople@
knology.net for info. Visit
www.reddoortheatre.org to
learn more about the event
and the theatre.
aug. 2-5

Tractor pull proceeds
benefit school athletics Longest yard sale
passes through state
The Alabama Championship Tractor and Truck Pull, one of
the largest events in the South, will be July 27 and 28 from
7 to 10 p.m at Tanner High School in Athens. Both nights
will include six classes sanctioned by the NTPA/Mid-South
Pullers Association. Saturday night events will include dualwheel farm tractors. Food concessions and t-shirts available.
Admission is charged. Call 256-232-5411 for questions.
Alabama Living

Visit the World’s Longest Yard Sale from Aug. 2-5. The
southern portion starts at Lookout Mountain Parkway from
Gadsden and Fort Payne to Chattanooga, Tenn. Call 888805-4740 for more details.

For more Alabama Events, visit page 29.
JULY 2012 9

Power Pack

Safe ways to recycle
mercury and batteries
A number of common consumer products contain mercury, a toxic
substance that can be harmful to human health and the environment.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) encourages users
of mercury-containing products to become familiar with and follow
requirements of local recycling laws.
Thermostats
Many existing wall thermostats contain mercury switches that provide
for efficient control of temperature around a desired set point. The
switches are securely housed, and the likelihood of consumer exposure
to mercury remains extremely low. When taken out of service, however,
mercury thermostats should be managed and disposed of properly.
The Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC), a not-for-profit
organization, facilitates the collection of all brands of used, wallmounted mercury-switch thermostats by heating, cooling and air
conditioning (HVAC) wholesalers. Local electrical distributors or
contractors may be a participant in TRC and can help you to recycle
your mercury thermostat.
Rechargeable batteries
Rechargeable batteries are commonly found in cordless power tools,
cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders, digital
cameras, and remote-controlled toys. The Rechargeable Battery
Recycling Corporation (RBRC) provides a recycling service for your
used portable, rechargeable batteries and old cell phones. The RBRC
recycles the following battery chemistries: nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd),
nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH), lithium-ion (Li-ion) and small sealed
lead (Pb). Visit www.RBRC.org to find local participating retailers and
other sites that accept rechargeable batteries for recycling.
Source: Electrical Safety Foundation International

State park spotlight:
Desoto State Park
Desoto State Park encompasses more than 3,500
acres along the Little River, and is nestled on Lookout
Mountain in northeast Alabama. The park has dining
and meeting facilities, along
with a large outdoor deck
available for gatherings. It
features 25 motel rooms,
mountain chalets and rustic
cabins. Mountain chalets
are equipped with full
kitchens and private decks.
The park is also home to
the Mountain Inn Restaurant, which overlooks the
Little River. It is open daily.
The state park is located
eight miles northeast of
Fort Payne, off of Interstate
59 in the northeastern tip of the state.
For questions, call 256-845-5380 or email Desoto.
StateParkLodge@dcnr.alabama.gov.

Utility bill pay scam promises help from government
Alabama residents should be advised
that people are trying to scam homeowners by posing as utility company workers
and government officials who offer to pay
their bills.
There have been reports of customers
victimized in the north and south of the
state by scammers who offer to pay their
utility bills through a new federal program.
An unidentified person has been calling
homeowners and telling them they qualify
for government assistance to pay their bills.
They acquire banking information and Social Security numbers while on the phone.
10 JULY 2012

The Better Business Bureau offers the
following tips to avoid falling for this
scam:
• Never provide your social security
number, credit card number or banking
information to anyone requesting it over
the phone or at your home unless you
initiated the contact and feel confident
with whom you are speaking.
• If you receive a call claiming to be your
utility company and feel pressured for immediate payment or personal information,
hang up the phone and call the customer
service number on your utility bill.

• Never allow anyone into your home
to check electrical wiring, natural gas
pipes or appliances unless you have
scheduled an appointment or have reported a utility problem. Also, ask utility
employees for proper identification.
• Always think safety first. Do not give
in to high pressure tactics over the phone
for information or in person to get into
your home.
The BBB advises homeowners who are
contacted to participate in the scam to
contact their local law enforcement office.

www.alabamaliving.coop

Looking back on 29 years of Alab
ama Living

Nearly 29 years ago I wrote my first
article as thing unexpected hap
editor of Alabama Living. Today, I’m
pened. I fell in love. Well,
writing my last. let me clarify: I
was (still am) happily married to
Sometimes we don’t get to pick our
profession – the girl of my dreams
it somehow picks us. You
, merrily raising two wonderapply for a job you think
ful boys, who, by the
you rea lly wa nt, you
way, are now grown.
don’t get it, you settle
So I’m not talking about
for something else, and
that kind of love. I fell in
lo and behold, 30 years
love with the culture of
later you’re retiring from
Alabama’s cooperatives.
a job you’re not sure you
I soon learned that
wanted. It was a good
AREA Magazine – now
job, though, you might
Alabama Living – is not
say.
only the voice of the 22
That was not the case
electric cooperatives in
with me. I really wanted
this state, but it serves
this job. Ever since grade
as a mirror that reflects
school I have been fasthe faces of more than
cinated by the world of
1 million electric co-op
magazines. I had regumembers. You folks are
lar subscriptions to MAD
the bac kbo ne of our
magazine and Boys’ Life.
great state. Every month
Classics Illustrated commy job took me to you.
ics – actually any comic
I wrote about your hobbook – dominated my
bie s, you r job s, you r
reading list. At Auburn
homes, your families.
University Montgomery I
You invited me to dinworked on the school’s
ner, and sent me on my
newspaper, but also was editor
way with a Mason jar of
of the literary local honey or a
bag of boiled peanuts. Like I said,
magazine, a job I dearly enjoyed.
I fell in love.
Then it was fall 1983 and I was
city editor of
So I stayed. And from this chair I
the (Montgomery) Alabama Journa
watched “our
l scanning the little book” grow
into the state’s largest consumer
classified ads, when I happened
upon an adver- publication, with
a monthly circulation of more than
tisement for “Magazine Editor” of som
ething called 400,000. Despite
its growth, though, I’m proud to
AREA Magazine. I had to have tha
t job. I applied say Alabama Livi
ng has maintained its local feel
with all the deter- and local app
eal. Sure you can find r e c i p e s
mination of a John online, but
wouldn’t you rather flip
Deere tractor, and through our
magazine and see what
I got it. Five years, the Cook of
the Month is up to? Yep,
I thought, as editor I thought so.
of this magazine,
May 31 was my official retirement
then I’ll move on date. As I mov
e from editor of Alato an even bigger bama Living
to reader of Alabama
market. Yep, the Living, I know
I have been given the
Atlanta, New Or- exquisite gift
of getting to meet so
leans, even New many of you in
pers
Yo r k m a g a z i n e this job so muc on. That’s made
h more than a capub lish ing wo rld reer. That’s mad
e it fun. For that,
seemed within my I can only say
thanks to you all.
grasp.
But then some– Darryl Gates

Alabama Living

JULY 2012 11

Sand
Island
Lighthouse

A beacon in the
Gulf of Mexico has
a storied history

Lighthouse

By Emmett Burnett

Early 1960s view of the Sand Island Lighthouse

T

h e d a y ’s m a r i n e
forecast calls for a
light chop in Gulf
waters as our 20-ft. boat
leaps wave to wave. The
Sand Island Lighthouse is
on the bouncing horizon. In
1837, John McCloud became
Sand Island’s first lighthouse
keeper. The same rough water
battling us fought him.

12 JULY 2012

“The Corps of Engineers spent $6 million dollars pumping sand to it,” Dauphin Island’s Jim Hall shouts above the
outboard motor’s roar. Hall is with the
Alabama Lighthouse Association. “But it’s
going to eventually wash away again. They
must continuously add more sand.”
Working from a government grant,
workers dredged and laid 1.4 million cubic yards of sand to this dry spot in the
Gulf of Mexico. Today its 131-foot conical
icon sits on fresh white land – for now.
In the 1800s Sand Island was 400 acres;
today it is 15 and shrinking. “People don’t
realize how swift this current is,” Jim says,

as we anchor and wade to shore. “The
water constantly flows east to west.” And
when the water goes west, so does the island, eroding a little at a time.”
Most South Alabamians have seen
Sand Island from shore. It is 4.2 bumpy
miles from Dauphin Island. But few
have actually been on it, and fewer still
in the lighthouse. It’s not exactly hospitable. In addition to occasionally treacherous currents that can ground a boat, the
lighthouse entrance is about 20 feet up,
through a window. The main door was
bricked over decades ago. So with rickety
ladder in place, we climb.
www.alabamaliving.coop

Balancing on a foot-wide window ledge
Lighthouse 2 was built in 1848. Standone peers inside the mammoth column ing 200 feet, it was the tallest ever built
once home to isolated lighthouse keepers. on the Gulf Coast. The magnificent strucNo one climbs the badly corroded spiral ture became the perfect home for Union
staircase to the top. It’s not safe, and there soldier spies, and on Feb. 23, 1863, under
is really no reason to – the 10 x 5 foot cover of darkness, Confederate soldier
Fresnel lens is gone, now on display at John W. Glenn rowed from Dauphin Isthe Fort Morgan Museum near Gulf Shores.
Hugging the lighthouse
like an amateur Indiana Jones, we move
around the outside circumference on a narrow ledge. Although it
is about 10 feet thick at
the base, the brick, tapered wall is crumbly
to the touch, after being battered by hurricanes over the century.
Looking straight up
at this ocean tower,
one wonders, how did
they build it? Perhaps
more amazing is the
fact that it has been
built three times. In
1837, Congress responded to complaints Sand Island Lighthouse awaiting restoration
of inadequate lighting
offered by a tall Sand Island spindle with land to Sand Island and placed 70 pounds
a light on it, visible a mere 6 miles. The of gunpowder under the tower. He lit the
first working lighthouse, 55 feet tall, was fuse and ran for his life in a downpour of
built to replace the spindle. But erosion bricks and Union dead.
and competition from the more powerful
The third and present lighthouse was
Mobile Point Lighthouse prompted sail- built and then activated on Sept. 1, 1873.
ors to call Sand Island’s “a second-class In 1903 two keepers manned the beacon.
beacon.”
One went to shore, leaving his co-worker.

Both were unaware of a massive hurricane brewing in the Gulf. After the storm,
the keeper who went to shore returned
to battered Sand Island, then wired the
mainland: “Sand Island light out. Island
washed away, Dwelling gone. Keeper not
to be found.” He never was.
Sand Island’s lighthouse was deactivated
in 1932. But it never
dimmed for the people
who love it. “This and
the Middle Bay Lighthouse are all that is left
of our rich maritime
history,” says Jim. “We
have got to preserve it.”
He and the 200 plus
members of the Alabama Lighthouse Association visit the site
often, making minor
repairs, maintenance,
and keeping an eye on
the place.
“I’ve worked on
lighthouses in Maine
and Canada,” says
member Halvor Biering of Fairhope. “But
Sand Island’s is different. It has been so long since active
service. We have a long way to go in restoring it. But if done, it will be beautiful.”
Halvor and Jim feel this lighthouse saved
many lives. Now is the time to return the
favor. For more information or to make a
donation, see www.sandislandlighthouse.
com.A

Want to help save
the lighthouse?
See
www.sandislandlighthouse.com
to make a donation.

Alabama Living

JULY 2012 13

The Alabama Bass Trail
On March 8, Gov. Robert Bentley announced the Alabama Bass
Trail to promote 11 of the best fishing waters in the state. This is
the second of a four-part series focusing on those lakes and rivers.

Coosa River leads to
outstanding bass action
By John N. Felsher

For more information on the Alabama
Bass Trail, see www.alabamabasstrail.org.

B

eginning near Rome, Ga., the Coosa River flows 280 miles to the
southwest with more than 90 percent of it in Alabama. South of
Wetumpka, it merges with the Tallapoosa River to create the Alabama River.
Along the way, it flows through some of the best bass waters in the country.

Thick grass covers many parts of Lake Logan Martin below
Sometimes called “The Lake of a Thousand Coves,” Lake Lo- Interstate 20. Largemouth bass tend to hunker down in thicker
gan Martin covers 15,263 acres near Pell City and creates more cover around grassy flats or fallen trees. Also look for bass along
than 275 miles of shoreline. Impounded in 1964, the lake runs channel drops where fish can move freely between deep and
more than 48 miles along the Coosa River and drops to more shallow waters.
“I fish Logan Martin quite a bit, usually at least once a week,”
than 110 feet deep in places.
said
Mark McCaig, a tournament fisherman from Oxford. “Logan
Lake Logan Martin served as the venue for four Bassmaster
Martin has always been
Classics, most recently
one of the best spotted
in 1992. The lake can
bass lakes in the counproduce many largetry, but over the last
mouth bass in the
few years, largemouths
4- to 6-pound class,
have dominated. Up
but the lake record
the river, people can
largemouth weighed
fish ledges in 5- to 614 pounds, 11 ounces.
feet of water all day
The lake can also prolong. In the summer,
duce some Kentucky
bass sit in 12 to 18
spotted bass approachfeet of water around
ing seven pounds and
brush, but people can
redeye bass up to three
usually catch some
pounds.
fish in the grass early
“Lake Logan Marin the morning. I oftin is on fire for bass
ten fish the grass with
right now,” said Chris
a 5/16-ounce swim jig
Jackson, a guide and
and then move deeper
bass pro from Dora.
“It has potential for Mike Wurm, a professional bass angler from Hot Springs, Ark., and Jonathan where I use either a jig
or worm.”
big fish, although not Newton, a professional bass angler from Rogersville, fish near a dock.
as big as Guntersville. The sheer numbers of spotted bass is
phenomenal. We wake spinnerbaits as fast as we can and they Lay Lake
One of the oldest impoundments in Alabama, Lay Lake dates
just annihilate it.”
Spotted bass generally prefer deeper, rockier conditions and to 1914 and covers about 12,000 acres in St. Clair, Talladega,
more current. Look for them in the upper reaches of the river Shelby, Coosa and Chilton counties. Running 50 miles along the
and in major creek channels. For tempting spots, throw baits old Coosa River channel, it offers anglers more than 289 miles
of shoreline.
that resemble shad.

Lake Logan Martin

14 JULY 2012

www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

JULY 2012â&#x20AC;&#x192; 15

TOP PHOTO: Gerald Swindle, a professional bass angler from
Warrior, fights a bass that struck a jig with a plastic creature
trailer.
BELOW: Swindle shows off some of his favorite crankbaits.
Crankbaits come with many different types and shapes of lips.
LEFT: Kevin VanDam, a professional bass angler from
Kalamazoo, Mich., adds another bass he caught to his livewell.

16â&#x20AC;&#x192; JUNE
JULY 2012
2012

www.alabamaliving.coop

The lake can produce some great
bass catches. In February 2010, Kevin
VanDam won the fourth Bassmaster
Classic held on Lay Lake. In three days,
he caught 15 bass weighing 51 pounds,
6 ounces.
The middle to lower portion of Lay
Lake generally contains more grass
beds, stump fields, brush and boulders. This area typically holds the biggest largemouth bass. At the lower end
of the lake, anglers find deep structure
and open, clearer water.
Although it can produce big largemouth bass, most anglers know Lay
Lake for its giant spotted bass. Some
top seven pounds. The upper portion
of the lake retains much of its riverine
shape. Water flowing through the dam
creates current that often sparks spotted bass feeding frenzies.

Lake Jordan

The southernmost impoundment
on the Coosa River, Lake Jordan dates
to 1928 and spreads across 6,800 acres
near Wetumpka. The lake offers anglers
about 188 miles of shorelines. Weeds,
abundant rocks and bluffs drop into
deep water and woody cover, creating

excellent bass habitat. A fertile impoundment with a good forage base,
Lake Jordan ranks among the best waters in the state for fast growth rates
among both largemouth and spotted
bass.
In the summer, many anglers fish
around docks. Bass move up under
docks to take advantage of the cool,
shady waters beneath them. Docks also
provide excellent ambush cover and
overhead protection from birds of prey.
“I like old, crusty wooden docks
with large diameter pilings the best,”
explained Alton Jones, a former Bassmaster Classic champion. “I also look
for secondary structure, like brush
piles. I also like docks near pathways
that bass use, like creek channels or
little ditches. I look for some type of
bottom structure that funnels fish into
a particular spot, like a creek channel
or little ditch that swings in close to a
dock or even under it.”
For booking trips with Jackson, call
205-704-2425 or see Chrisjacksonfishing.com. For more information on
these lakes and others on the Alabama
Bass Trail, see www.alabamabasstrail.
org. A

Bass tournament benefits girl with rare illness
Brandon McCullogh and Pete Graham, both of Mobile, won the
Breanna Moore Benefit Bass Tournament, held May 19, 2012, at
Big Creek Lake near Wilmer. They landed a five-bass limit weighing 10 pounds, 12 pounds. McCullogh and Graham anchored
their bag with a 4-pound, 8-ounce largemouth that took tournament lunker honors.
The tournament raised money for Breanna Moore, a 4-year-old
girl suffering from a rare medical condition called Opsoclonus
Myoclonus Syndrome. Also known as Opsoclonus-MyoclonusAtaxia, OMS affects about one person in 10 million and attacks
the nervous system. Currently, there is no known cure. The
money will be used to pay for Breanna’s medical treatments.
Each team paid $50 to enter the tournament. The tournament
paid cash prizes to the top anglers, based upon the number of
entries. Many of the anglers who won cash prizes donated their
winnings back to the Moore Family to help them defray medical
expenses.
For more information or to make a donation to the Breanna
Moore Benefit Fund, call Mandy Moore at 251-422-2054.

Alabama Living

Tables indicate peak fish and game feeding
and migration times. Major periods can bracket
the peak by an hour before and an hour after.
Minor peaks, half-hour before and after. Adjusted
for daylight savings time.
a.m. p.m.
Minor Major Minor Major

n northeast Alabama, the nearly 33-mile Chief Ladiga Trail is a
regional playground that passes through welcoming towns and
pastoral landscapes. Following a former CSX railroad corridor,
the rail-trail is named for the Creek Indian leader who signed the
1832 Cusseta Treaty, surrendering the tribe’s remaining land in
the area.
Remarkably flat and smooth, the trail arcs from Woodland Park
in Anniston northeast through small towns and quiet countryside
to the state line with Georgia, where it connects to the Silver Comet
rail-trail. It begins on a slightly raised rail bed before entering open
fields, passing beneath canopies of pine, dogwood and other native
trees and alongside enchanting wetlands. You’ll find numerous access points along the way.
The first stop is Weaver, where you might want to pop in to
the nearby grocery store for snacks. Back on the trail, twin stone
foundations of a railroad trestle flank the route. Five miles along,
in Jacksonville, you’ll pass an old train depot, restored in 2010 and
now providing, among other things, a resting place for trail users.
You’ll also find the Jacksonville State University campus. Just off
the trail is the historic town square, which boasts several shops and
restaurants (climb Mountain Street and turn right on Route 21).
Keep alert over the following nine miles, as you may catch a
deer or fox watching you. You’ll soon reach central Piedmont, a
quaint community that embraces the trail with a welcome center,
benches and a sandwich shop just steps away.
From Piedmont the scenery begins to change. Duggar Mountain
18 JULY 2012

and the southern Appalachians provide a backdrop to fields that
transition to forests. Terrapin Creek skirts the trail, and soon a
bridge carries you over it. Here, the trail travels through protected
wilderness within Talladega National Forest. Equestrians should
check the trail website and contact the trail manager to inquire
about equestrian use on the trail.
At the Georgia state line, the Chief Ladiga Trail becomes Georgia’s Silver Comet Trail, which stretches for another 62 miles, making the trails the longest pedestrian path in the country. A

Parking
& Trail
Access:
Directions: From
I-20, take Exit
185 and head
north about 10
miles through
Anniston on
Route 1/Quintard Avenue;
bear right on McClellan Boulevard/Route 21 on the north side
of town. A few miles past the split, turn left on Weaver Road;
continue about a mile, then turn left again on Holly Farms Road
to the well-marked Woodland Park trailhead.

www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

JULY 2012â&#x20AC;&#x192; 19

Consumer Wise

Hot Water
Can Heat
Houses
Using a reverse cycle chiller
with your home’s heat
pump can be a less costly
alternative to supplemental
resistance heating

Q

: We have an old inefficient
electric resistance furnace. I have
heard there are some new types
of heat pumps that use a big water tank
and don’t need backup heat. How do these
systems work, and are they efficient?

flows directly through an indoor coil. Air
blows over the coil to heat or cool your
house. A reverse cycle chiller heats or
cools water in a small (20- to 40-gallon)
insulated tank. The water then flows
through the indoor coil. The entire system
will cost 15 percent to 20 percent more to
install than a standard heat pump/electric
furnace combination.
The output capacity of a typical
heat pump is sized for the cooling Btu
requirements of the house. In most parts
of the U.S., the heating Btu requirements
are greater. To make up the difference,
a backup electric resistance furnace is
required during very cold periods. As
the outdoor temperature drops, the heat

A

: Although electric resistance
heating can be relatively
expensive to operate, it is 100
percent efficient—that means all the
electricity you pay for ends up heating
your house. With a gas or oil furnace, you
lose some heat out the flue. The problem
with electric resistance heating is it costs
more to produce 1 Btu from electricity
than it does by burning fossil fuels.
A heat pump can produce 3 Btu of heat
for your house for each 1 Btu on your
electric bill. This is because the heat pump
does not actually create heat directly.
It uses a compressor, coils, and other
equipment to draw heat from the outdoor
air and pump it into your house.
The heat pump system you refer to is
called a reverse cycle chiller. It basically
uses a standard high-efficiency heat pump
to produce heat during winter and cool
air in the summer. A typical air-source
heat pump heats or cools a refrigerant that

James Dulley is a nationally
syndicated engineering
consultant based in Cincinnati.

20 JULY 2012

This reverse cycle system is completely
located outdoors. Notice the heavy
insulation on the piping.
Source: Aqua Products

output of the heat pump also drops just as
the heating needs of your house increase.
You might think you could install a
larger capacity heat pump to provide
enough heat for your house even on very
cold days. This would be possible with an
air-source heat pump, but it would not
work well in the air-conditioning mode.
An oversized air conditioner results in
short cycles, indoor temperature swings,
and poor dehumidification.
The primary advantage of a reverse
cycle chiller is it transfers heat to an
insulated water tank. This allows you to
install a heat pump with an extra large
capacity for adequate heating even in
cold weather without the associated
summertime cooling issues. Many of the
major HVAC manufacturers’ heat pumps
can be used with a reverse cycle chiller
system.

During summer, this large heat
pump cooling capacity chills the water
in the insulated tank to 40 degrees or
so. The chilled water is run through a
coil in the blower system, which cools
and dehumidifies indoor air just like a
standard heat pump. The heat pump can
cycle on and off as needed to chill the
water in the tank independently of the
indoor blower. Therefore the blower can
run as long as needed to provide comfort
and efficiency.
Another key advantage of having the
heated water tank is its wintertime defrost
mode. A heat pump regularly switches
to the cooling mode to defrost ice that
collects on the outdoor condenser coils.
During this time, expensive electric
resistance heat comes on or chilly air
blows out the registers.
With a reverse cycle chiller, the heat to
defrost the coils comes from the heated
water tank so warm air continues to
blow out the registers. During regular
operation, the temperature of the air
coming out the registers is also warmer
than with a typical air-source heat pump.
In addition to eliminating or greatly
reducing the use of backup resistance
heating, a reverse cycle chiller provides
options for efficient heating. Because the
heat is coming from the insulated water
tank, you can select different types of
heating for different rooms. The hot water
can be piped through a heat exchanger
(fan coil) and typical ductwork to produce
heated air.
The following companies offer reverse
cycle chiller systems: Aqua Products,
800- 840-4264, www.aquaproducts.
us; Multiaqua, 864-850-8990, www.
multiaqua.com; and Unico System, 800527-0896, www.unicosystem.com. A

The theme for this quilt is
‘Spotlight on Alabama’s Official State Symbols’

Judges for the
sixth quilt
competition

What is it?

• A competition for all cooperative
handworkers to make squares for
the 7th AREA cooperative quilt
• We would like to represent as many
cooperatives as possible.
• Winners will be given statewide
recognition and have their square
included in the quilt.
PARTICIPATION IS FREE!
For information and guidelines,
please complete the form below
and mail or fax it to:
Linda Partin
Alabama Rural Electric Association
P.O. Box 244014
Montgomery, AL 36124
Fax: 334-215-2733
or e-mail: lpartin@areapower.com
or visit the link at www.areapower.coop
Alabama Living

I would like to
participate in AREA’s
7th Quilt Competition.
Please send guidelines and information to:
Name ________________________________________
Address ______________________________________
City __________________________________________
State _________ Zip ___________________________
Phone ________________________________________
E-mail ________________________________________
Cooperative ___________________________________
JULY 2012 21
(Listed on cover of magazine)

Power Plants

Beyond the Kitchen—
Herbs in the Landscape
By Katie Jackson

Garden Tips: July
Prune summer-blooming
shrubs after they have finished
flowering. Remove any dead or
diseased branches.
Sow seeds for cool season
vegetable crops directly into the
garden by mid-July.
Pull weeds from garden beds as
they emerge and before they
can flower and go to seed.
Keep fresh water in birdbaths.
Watch for insect and disease
damage on indoor and outdoor
plants.
Plant pumpkin seeds for a
Halloween harvest.
Plant fall vegetables such as
cabbage, parsley and collards.
Pick all vegetables regularly to
ensure continued bearing.
Remove flowers from basil and
cut mint to encourage new
shoots.
Keep container plants well
watered during the summer.
Apply water until it runs out of
the pot’s drainage holes.

Katie Jackson is associate editor
for the Alabama Agricultural
Experiment Station. Contact her
at csmith@acesag.auburn.edu

22 JULY 2012

M

y back patio is home to numerous pots of cooking herbs—
oregano, rosemary, thyme,
chives and mint as perennials and usually
basil and cilantro as annuals. Like most
plants in my yard, these herbs have to
make it without much pampering. I am
lucky to water them some weeks, and the
perennial herbs stay outside year-round, so
they have to withstand the winter as well.
Lately, though, I’ve been considering
moving those perennial herbs into
the ground where they can put down
deeper roots and may require even
less attention. And in the process I
have been considering other herbs for
ornamental purposes, most specifically
hyssop and creeping thymes.
Hyssop is new for me to try because
I typically grow herbs for cooking.
While it can be used in small amounts
to add a savory zing (it’s supposed to be
very good in soups, salads and used on
some meats—duck has been suggested),
hyssop is grown commercially for use
in colognes and liqueurs and it has a
long history of use as an herbal remedy,
including many Biblical references as a
cleansing herb.
For me the appeal of hyssop, which
is a member of the mint family that is
native to North America and Europe,
is not for my kitchen but for its work
in the garden where it draws bees,
butterflies and hummingbirds and repels
some insect pests.
Hyssop is an upright plant that can
range in height from one to five feet tall
and its fragrant flowers (there is even a
bubblegum-scented option) come in an
array of colors—purple and pink, blue,
red and orange and white, depending
on the cultivar—that bloom from the
summer through fall.
I will likely use hyssop as a border
plant, but it is also great for garden beds,

in rock gardens and in containers, and
it is considered a great companion plant
in vegetable gardens because it controls
some pests and those bees it draws help
pollinate other crops.
Creeping thyme, on the other hand,
is what I hope to put underfoot. It is one
of the few groundcovers that withstands
foot traffic and, when stepped upon,
creeping thymes emit a lovely scent, plus
their soft texture makes even barefoot
walking a delight. It can be used as a
groundcover carpet or planted between
stepping stones and it’s also lovely
tucked into the landscape among rocks
or cascading over walls.
A number of cultivars of creeping
thyme are available offering flowers of
pink, purple and lilac hues and they are
all low-maintenance, hardy and spread
nicely to fill in cracks and crevices in
walkways and other areas.
Needless to say there are many other
herbs that can make charming landscape
plants—rosemary, bee balm, sage
and lavender to name a few—so don’t
hesitate to explore the options. Do keep
in mind, however, that some of them
can become invasive (mint, for example)
so select with care!
If you’re looking for other garden
ideas, take time this summer to attend
local workshops and visit public
gardens. One amazing option is the 11th
annual Farm, Home and Wildlife Expo
to be held Aug. 4, noon to 5 p.m., at the
Chilton Research and Extension Center
in Clanton. This free event features
samples of all sorts of yummy garden
fruits and recipes as well as information
on growing fruits and vegetables and
other educational opportunities ranging
from farm pond management to food
safety advice. For more information call
205-646-3610 or visit www.aaes.auburn.
edu/researchcenters/chilton/news.php. A
www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

JULY 2012â&#x20AC;&#x192; 23

Worth the Drive
Dadeville

Chuck’s
Marina
Hang Around for Smooth Sounds
During the summer months, Chuck’s
is packed during the day, but on the
weekends, it gets even livelier at night.
When the sun goes down, the music
starts up. Every Friday night from 7p.m.
to 11 p.m., you’ll find a band playing at
Chuck’s. On Saturday evenings, from
8 p.m. to 11 p.m., anybody can take a
turn at the mike for karaoke night.
By Jennifer Kornegay

To help celebrate Alabama’s
2012 “Year of Food,” each
month freelance writer
Jennifer Kornegay will take
you to an out-of-the-way
restaurant worth the drive.

aybe it’s because I’ve got an
uncle Chuck that I’m quite
fond of, but for me, the name
subconsciously conjures up words like
congenial, fun and family. So when I was
first introduced to Chuckwalla’s Pizzeria
at Chuck’s Marina in Dadeville on Lake
Martin, I was already prejudiced — on the
positive side — before I’d ever had a bite
of my food.
Of course, even to those without an “uncle Chuck” connection, Chuck’s brightly colored buildings perched on a slight hill seem
to shout, “Come on over and stay awhile”
above the din of boats and their wakes slapping the retaining wall. And that’s exactly
what owners Greg and Jane Harris want you
to do: park your car or tie up your boat and
relax on the large deck (part covered, part
not) with a cold drink and a hot slice of
pizza and soak in the waterfront view.
Greg actually bought Chuck’s Marina
from its namesake about 20 years ago.
Since it was already a landmark of sorts,
he decided to keep the name, and according to Jane, will gladly answer to Chuck
when confused patrons innocently make
that mistaken assumption. But the restaurant portion of Chuck’s, Chuckwalla’s Pizzeria, is all Greg; he added it about a year
after he took over the marina. His wife Jane
has been helping out ever since they got
together, about nine years ago.
So Chuck’s has the requisite laidback lake
atmosphere; it’s got friendly owners; it’s got
a great view. Without good food though,
none of the above really matters. But actually, none of the above does matter. As I and
other Lake Martin lovers and area residents
can attest, the food at Chuck’s is so good,
we’d happily eat it in a dark room with a
lone, dingy window framing a glimpse of
an interstate overpass. All the other stuff is
just icing on the cake.
Or, more accurately, extra cheese on
the pizza, because that’s what you’ll find at
Chuck’s. Pizza, pizza and more pizza. (And
wings and mini-corn dogs if, for some
strange reason, you don’t want Chuck’s
pizza.) If a pizza-dominated menu at a
lake restaurant seems a little odd to you, let
Jane explain. “Everybody likes pizza,” she

said. “It’s a very versatile food that people
can customize to their liking, so it’s easy to
satisfy almost everyone.”
Satisfy? I’d say thrill. There are some
diverse options to choose from, but the
basics of any Chuck’s pizza include fresh
tomatoes, fresh herbs and quality cheese all
on a firm foundation of either medium or
thin crust. For the true Chuck’s experience,
mosey on up to the ordering window and
ask for the Chimney Rock pizza, a hefty
creation named after the lake’s iconic cliff
that lures teenage boys to jump off of it and
hundreds of boaters to watch. It’s loaded
with just about everything they’ve got back
in the kitchen, which includes mountains
of meat, and if you get it on the thin crust,
you may have to employ a knife and fork;
the crust often folds under the weight of
the toppings.
Non-meat lovers should try the Algae
pizza with its special garlic sauce, onions,
olives, artichoke hearts and more. Kids
usually go for the Goat Island pizza; it’s
got a triple layer of pepperoni with extra,
EXTRA cheese.
There’s also a bar under the covered
portion of the deck with several beers on
tap, as well as WineStoppers, a wine bar/
wine shop around from the ordering window that offers specialty wines from small
vineyards by the glass and in bottles to buy
and take home.
While I downplay the lakeside setting in
favor of the food, Jane believes the proximity to the water influences the flavors. “Our
attention to fresh ingredients is important,
but so is the lake. I think being right on it
really does make everything taste better,”
she said. A
www.alabamaliving.coop

In a large bown, toss together all ingredients. Season with
salt and pepper. Serves 4.

I was married to my husband Steve seven
years ago, and one of my most favorite
wedding presents was a nifty antique picnic
basket with all the trimmings; containers for
food, wine glasses, dinnerware, and beautiful
napkins all tucked into the nooks and crannies
of a pretty box. We used it about twice a year
for various occasions and four years later, we
had our first outdoor picnic
(in our backyard) with our
then 5-month-old daughter.
She had just learned to sit
up on her own and eat “table
food.” Picnics always stay
with me as
fun family
memories!

You could win $50!
If your recipe is chosen as the cook-of-the-month recipe, we’ll send you a check for $50!

Please send all submissions to: Recipe Editor, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124. Or e-mail to:
recipes@areapower. coop. Be sure to include your address, phone number and the name of your electric cooperative.

26 JULY 2012

Editor’s Note: Alabama Living’s recipes are submitted by our readers. They are not kitchen tested by a professional cook or
registered dietician. If you have special dietary needs, please check with your doctor or nutritionist before preparing any recipe.

Cook pasta. Add dressing and toss while pasta is warm.
Add vegetables and cheese. The cook likes to serve this
with Rotisserie chicken.
Jamie Petterson,Tallapoosa River EC

Cucumber Lemonade

1 large cucumber,
peeled, seeded,
and cut in chunks
(about 2 cups)

3/4 cup sugar
2 lemons, juiced
water

Put the cucumber and about 1 1/2 cups of water in a
blender. Blend until well pureed. Strain the liquid into a
pitcher and discard the pulp. Add the sugar and about 1
cup water to the blender. Blend thoroughly to dissolve
the sugar. Add the blended water/sugar mixture to
the pitcher. Juice the lemons and add the juice to the
pitcher. Add enough water to make 8 cups of liquid.
To transport, pour into a thermos or other spill-proof
container. At your picnic site, give the lemonade a stir
and serve over ice.
Sandy Adams, Marshall-DeKalb EC

Heat grill to medium high. In a medium bowl, toss the
tomatoes with 1 tablespoon of the oil and 1/4 teaspoon each
of salt and pepper. Season the steak with 1⁄2 teaspoon of salt
and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper and grill to desired doneness. Let
rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Meanwhile, brush both sides
of the onion slices with the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil
and sprinkle with the spice mix. Grill until tender, 5 to 6
minutes per side. Grill the tomatoes, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
Form sandwiches with the bread, lettuce, steak, onions and
tomatoes.

Editor’s Note: Alabama Living’s recipes are submitted by our readers. They are not kitchen tested by a professional cook or
registered dietician. If you have special dietary needs, please check with your doctor or nutritionist before preparing any recipe.

Around Alabama
Geraldine, Picnic in the Park

Linda Armstrong / Shutterstock.com

Come join us for a day of fun
at the Geraldine Town Park.
Great entertainment, food &
fun! Cruise-In begins at 11 a.m.
Festival starts at noon with
various local artists, including
Backwoods Revival, Chosen
Generation, Pat Upton, Country
Case and a variety of other great

To place an event, mail to Events Calendar, P.O. Box
244014, Montgomery, AL 36124; e-mail to calendar@
areapower.coop. (Subject Line: Around Alabama) or visit
www.alabamaliving.coop. Each submission must include a
contact name and phone number. Deadline is two months
prior to issue date. We regret that we cannot publish every
event due to space limitations.

25 • Fyffe, 8th Annual Fyffe
UFO Days August 25
(Unforgettable Family Outing)
Gates open at 9 a.m.,
entertainment at 10 a.m.
Live music, arts and crafts,
entertainment and games
for the kids, antique tractors
and cars
Admission: Free
Contact: Brandi Clayton at Fyffe
Town Hall 256-623-7298 or
fyffetownclerk@farmerstel.com

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FOR SALE
12.5 ACRE PECAN ORCHARD –
COVINGTON COUNTY, ANDALUSIA:
Three ponds, 30 X 60 metal barn/
office, power and water. GREAT
LOCATION - visit: www.allisonland.
com, (205)789-0327 - $139,000
LAND AVAILABLE FOR LEASING…
Approximately 3 miles south of
Evergreen on U.S. 31 next to old

How To Place a Line Ad
in Marketplace
Closing Deadlines (in our office):
September 2012 – deadline – July 25
October 2012 – deadline – Aug. 25
November 2012 – deadline – Sept. 25
-Ads are $1.65 per word with a 10 word
minimum and are on a prepaid basis
-Telephone numbers, email addresses and
websites are considered 1 word each
-Ads will not be taken over the phone. You
may email your ad to hdutton@areapower.
com or call (800)410-2737 ask for Heather
for pricing.
-We accept checks, money orders and all
major credit cards
Mail ad submission along with a check or
money order made payable to ALABAMA
LIVING, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL
36124 – Attn: Classifieds.

Alabama Living

JULY 2012 31

Market Place

32 JULY 2012

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JULY 2012â&#x20AC;&#x192; 33

34â&#x20AC;&#x192; July 2012

DEC_AL_JUL_12.indd 34

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6/18/12 3:30 PM

Alabama Living

DEC_AL_JUL_12.indd 35

July 2012â&#x20AC;&#x192; 35

6/18/12 3:30 PM

Our Sources Say

Chicken Little, Ph.D.
Folk stories are the foundation of all cultures, not just ours.
They may be the earliest method of passing knowledge from
generation to generation. And, folk stories are always based
upon life’s lessons (they are not just entertainment).

We all remember the story of
Chicken Little who was walking in
the woods when an acorn hit him
on the head. Convinced the sky was
falling, he ran to tell the king of the
impending danger. On his way, he
ran into a number of acquaintances
(mostly fowl with rhyming names).
He convinced them the sky was falling
and that they should accompany him
to tell the king. However, they met
up with Foxy Woxy, who, under the
pretense of showing them the way to
the king, led them into his lair where
he ate them for dinner.
As culture and technology have
changed, so has Chicken Little.
Today’s Chicken Little is often a highly
degreed, well-dressed, articulate
individual with a briefcase and
PowerPoint presentations. However,
Chicken Little still wants to visit the
king and tell him the sky is falling.
He likes to talk on television, in
newspapers and in magazines. And
Chicken Little likes million-dollar
government grants to define how
badly and quickly the sky is falling.
There are many Chicken Littles
among us. Remember Y2K? Many

Gary Smith is
President and CEO
of PowerSouth
Energy Cooperative
36 JULY 2012

computer experts warned that the
modern world would go dark at
midnight on Dec. 31, 1999, and
billions of dollars would be required
to restore the failed networks unless
immediate and drastic action was
taken to correct computer defects and
avoid certain disaster. We and many
other companies spent thousands,
if not millions, of dollars and manhours to correct systems and prevent
impending disaster. Others did
nothing. Of course, Jan. 1, 2000, came
and went without any destruction. The
sky did not fall. Chicken Little was
disappointed that his time before the
king ended without a great disaster,
but he moved on.
Of course, I couldn’t write an
article without mentioning global
warming or climate change. Al
Gore, Jim Hanson and a number of
other scientists have created a robust
industry predicting the damage from
droughts, floods, rising sea levels,
increasing storms and general climate
chaos caused by unmitigated manmade climate change.
Al Gore says, “Humanity is sitting
on a time bomb. If the vast majority
of the world’s scientists are right, we
have just 10 years to avert a major
catastrophe that could send our entire
planet’s climate system into a tailspin
of epic destruction.” Mr. Gore wants
to visit the king to tell him that all is
lost unless we plant trees, properly

inflate our tires and use low-energy
light bulbs.
Jim Hansen, a NASA employee and
a full-time climate alarmist, states,
“The latest climate models show the
planet is on the brink of an emergency.”
He has called for the prosecution of
electric utility officials (people like me)
for high crimes against humanity and
nature. Mr. Hansen continues with
the same “the sky is falling” mantra he
has repeated since 1988, although the
actual global temperatures stubbornly
refuse to match his models’ predictions.
It should be noted that when Hansen
took his message to the king, he
personally received $1.6 million in
research fees over and above his NASA
salary.
So what is the psychology of Chicken
Little? He loves the talk shows and
the adulation. He likes sitting with
the king. He enjoys calling down
destruction on those that do not heed
his warnings. He is not a great and kind
soul who warns of danger but a small
mind that wishes us to suffer should
we refuse his advice. Catastrophe is not
his fear but his hope. If you don’t think
so, listen to Mr. Gore, Mr. Hansen and
other Chicken Littles. Finally, Chicken
Little really wants to be Foxy Woxy,
lure us into his lair and have us (and
our money) for dinner.
Thank you for reading. Keep your
eye on the sky, and I hope you have a
good month. A
www.alabamaliving.coop

Alabama Living

JULY 2012â&#x20AC;&#x192; 35

Alabama Snapshots
2

1

My old
car II
3

7

4

6
5

Submit Your Images!
september Theme: “My

truck”

Send color photos with a large self addressed stamped envelope to:

Photos, Alabama Living, P.O. Box
244014, Montgomery, AL, 36124.
Rules: Alabama Living will pay $10 for photos
that best match our theme of the month. Alabama
Living is not responsible for lost or damaged photos.
Deadline for: July 31